Howe library budget proposes 1-percent tax levy increase

The Wellsville Daily Reporter

Writer

Posted May. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 7, 2013 at 7:16 AM

Posted May. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 7, 2013 at 7:16 AM

WELLSVILLE

The tax levy for the David A. Howe Public Library would go up again in 2014 if school district voters OK a proposition May 21. However, the hike won’t be nearly as much as the 132-percent levy increase in 2012, library Director Brian Hildreth said Monday night.

The tax levy made up $401,207 of the library’s income this year. That amount would rise to $405,219 for next year with voter approval.

“It’s a 1-percent increase on the existing $401,207, which we receive in taxes from the school district,”?he said. “It equals $4,012. Basically, what that means is, the average taxpayer will experience a 77-cent increase on their library tax bill if the budget passes.”

The 132-percent levy increase voters approved a year ago amounted to $228,287 hike over the previous levy of $172,820.

“We were running at an extreme deficit because the endowment lost value,”?Hildreth said. “For 2014, we’re now able to have a balanced budget.”

The library’s total costs would go up $13,267 from this year to next year if the budget passes.

“We’re proposing spending $668,211,”?he said of the 2014 total budget. “Salaries are going up $6,000 total (3 percent over this year’s budget amount)?for 14 part-time employees and five full-time employees. That includes me as director.”

Hildreth said he and other library board representatives would attend today’s Wellsville Central School District budget hearing in case anyone has questions about the library budget. The school district budget hearing is at 6 p.m. in the middle/high school cafeteria.